Testing-machine for plastic substances.



n. ABRAHAM. TESTING MACHINE FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANOES. APPLIUATIOH IILBD PEB. 4, 1910.

989,471Q. Y Patented Apr. 11,`1j91 1.

2 SHEETS-sum' 1` Mg A WITNESSES: l/WENTR H. ABRAHAM. TESTING MACHINE POB PLABTIO SUBSTANOES.

D APPLIUATIOH FILED FBBA, 1910. 11,

" "2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

man. 0\ E E.

ATTORNEYS HERBERT ABRAHAM, BOUND'BROOK, NEW JERSEY.

TESTING-MACHINE FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

raient-eu apr. 11, 1911.

Applcationled February 4, 1910. Serial No. 542,039.

To all whom 'Ltmay concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT Anaal-Lui, a citizen of the United States-anda resi# is a full, clear, and exact description...

The object of the invention is toprovide a new and improved testing machine, more especially designed for testing plastic niaterials, and arranged togive an accurate indication of the hardness of the material tested, and to provide a practically-unlimited range of action of the machine. For the purpose mentioned, use is madeof a manually-controlled penetrating means for penetrating the material a predetermined distance in a predetermined time, and a variable pressure device indicating the re- .sistance encountered by the said peiietra-ting means. l

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in

which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. Figure l is a front elevation of the testing machine, parts being in section; Fig. 2

is an enlarged sectionalplan view f thel saine on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the connection between the hand wheel and the screw rod, the section being on the line 3 3 `of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is an` enlarged cross sectional view of the screw rod, spring andnut moving on the screw rod and indicating on the scale, the section being on the line 4.-4, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 5 5 f Fig. 4.

In testing machines for testing bituminous materials or plastic substances, and as heretofore constructed, useisniade of a weighted needle, which is 'allowed to act on thematerial for a definite period of time at a prescribed temperature, and the depth to which the needle penetrates is recorded by means v of a suitable measuring device, so that four constant factors and one variable factor are involved, the' four constant factors being the size and shape of the needle, the weightl applied, the temperature and the interval of time, while the variable factor .is the variable distance lwhich the needlepenetrates' into the material, and which distance is recorded as an indication of theconsistency of hardness of the tested material. The

total work performed in `'effecting a penetration is equal to that expended in disy placing the plastic solid, plustliat lused in overcomingthe frictional adhesion of the substance in' contact with the surface of the needle. Then a pointed needle is, used both the volume displaced and tliefrictional adhesion are increased proportionally -much more rapidly than the corresponding depth of penetration. In successive time intervals therincrements do not follow any definite law, and the depth of penetration of a 4pointed needle is therefore not -a true measure of the hardness of the tested material. Needles of the same numbers vary in cross sectional area, and the range of a No. 2

`sewing needle, for instance, acting under a. fixed weight, is found in practice torbe limited. vIf the weight actuating the needle is very great itssensitiveness for soft materials becomes sacrificed, and if the weight is relatively small the needle fails to 'enetrate hard materials. In any event, i different weights are employed tlie various sets of readings cannot be compared.

The above mentioned defects are overcome bythe use of the testing machine presently to he described in detail, and in which a special form of needle or penetrating tool and a variable pressure device are employed, the penetrating tool being manually controlled to penetrate the material at a certain definite, uniform rate, that is, the rate of penetration is maintained constant while the pressure device applied is made the variable factor. Y

The testing machine is mounted on a suitable frame having a base A, standards A and a top cross bar A2. and on the said base A is placed the material B, to be'tested as to its degree of hardness, by the use of a needle C. removably secured to the lower end of a needle holderD, by 4a set screw E. The needleholder D is mounted to slide up and down in a bearing A?, formed in the cross bar A4, attached tothe standards A of the frame A, and suitable `means are employed, such as a pin E', held in the bearing A3, and engaging a slot D in the needle holder D, to prevent the latter from turning. The upper end of the needle holder D is coupled t0 the lower end of a screw rod F, by providing the needle holder with a socket D2, into which extends the reduced end F of the screw rod F, the said reduced end F having resiliency,

a pm G extending vnut H, that is,

van annular groove F2, into which projects held against rotation by the pin E engag-L ing the sloty D?.,.-.The upper end F3 of the screw rod F is non-threaded and slidingly engages a bore 1n a hand wheel G, having Lits hub G mounted to turn ina suitable bearing A5, formed in the cross bar A2 of the frame of the machine. The hub G is provided with an annular groove G2 into which projects a screw or pin G3, held on the cross bar A2, to allow the hand wheel G to turn and to hold it against axial movement. The hand wheel G is provided with into agroove F, formed lengthwise on the screw rod F, so that the latter is turned on turning the hand wheel G, at the same time the screw rod F is free to slide np or down. f

Onj the screw rod F screws a nut H, provided on its linb H with a collar I, to which 1s secured the upper end of a spring J, se-

'cnred at -its lower end to a collar I fastened to a-iange K, secured to the. cross'bar A4, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1. The spring J exerts a downward pressure on the nut H and consequently on the screw rod F. The nut H is held against turning, and for this purpose is provided on opposite sidesV with slots H2, H3, engaging vertical guideways A, A7 .attached to the cross' bars A* and-A2. The nut H indicates lon a scale L, representing kilos and sub-divisions, or other weight measure, the scale L' .being arranged on a plate N having slots N at its ends for engagement by screws N2 screwing in the guldewayv A6 to secure the plate N in position and to allow adjustment thereof, so 4as to bring the scale L in proper relation to the the scale' in register with the nut H at the time the latter lis in its lowermost position, and the lower end of the needle C rests on top of the material B to be tested. On top of the n ut H rests a spring plate H *,'having slots engaging the guideways ASA?, so that when the'nut H rises, it carries the plate H4 valong to its maximum position, and when the nut, H descends, the plate H4 remains in this position and hence indicates the maximum reading on the scale L. It is understood that the plate H4, owing to its readily clamps itself in position on the guideways A, Arr as soon as the nut H descends. v V

The screw rod F, the needle holder D and the needle C are counterbalanced, to render the machine very sensitive, and for this purpose the upper end of the screw rod F is connected with a cord M, extending over to bring the zero point of guide pulleys M', M2, journaled in a bracket M3 attached to thetop cross bar AZ.- The end of the cord M extends downward into one of the hollow standards A', and'supports a counterbalancing weight M,

On the screw rod F between the .upper end F3 and the upper threads of the screw rod F is arranged a worm F4, in mesh with a worm wheel O, secured on 4a shaft O', journaled in suitable bearings arranged' in a bracket A8, secured to oneof the stand ards A. r On the shaft O is fastened a gear wheel O2, lin mesh with a pinion O3, secured on a shaft O4, journaled in the bracket A8 and carrying at its forward end a pointer P, indicating on a dial Q, attached to the bracket A8.

The operation is as follows: YWhen testing'tlie material B, the needle C is' lowered to rest on the H then being opposite the Zero mark of the scale L and Athe spring .J being without compression. The operator now turns the hand wheel G, so that the screw rod F is rotated and moves downward, and 'with it the holder D and the needle C, for the latter to penetrate in-to the material B, the rotation -ot' l the screw rod'F causing a turning of the' pointer P by the action of the train of gear wheels connecting the pointer P with the worm F4 on the screw rod F, as previously explained. Now the resistance loffered by' the material B to the penetration of the needle C allows the nut yH to move upward on the turning of the screw rod F, whereby the springl J is placed under tension, the amount of tension being indicated by the screw nut H on the corresponding mark of the scale L. The hand wheel Gisturned until the needle C has advanced into the material B a distance of one centimeter per minute, the Itime being controlled by a watch or a metronome. In order to enable the operator to turn the hand wheel with the desired regularity, the gearing connecting the screw rod F with thepointer P, is so arranged that the ,operator can readily control the speed with' which the. hand wheel G is turned, by following the pointer around the dial Q; in other words, the pointer P serves as a guide to the operator, to enable the latter to turn the hand -wheel 'G at the proper speed tol advance the needle C one centimeter per minute. In practice, the material B to be tested is preferably supported in a small reservoir 1 filled vwith water and maintained at a constant temperature of 77 F. by means of a heating coil 2 connected with incandescent lamps?) in series, which izo I". The heating coil may be used to mainpractical tests l havefound that the degree ,/C ommercial D of hardness as it appears to the senses cor. responds to the square root of the numberof grams indicated? on the scale L, and consequently 'readings are expressed as the square root of the number of grams which' must be applied to a round or jlat surface of 0.01 sq. cm. in area, to cause'the needle to penetrate it a distance of one centimeter 1n exactly one minute. -The amount thus obtained 1s termed the `hardness of the ma.-

terial,. and Athe readings conveniently ornr a. scale of 4hardness expressed in .degrees j ranging from 0 to 100.`A The following iig-- Vaseline gradeasphaltum- 16.0O y Paratlin Wax 23T fl Ozocerite 43.6 t

(t (C U CI The needle used is .preferably form-edA 'with a round, fiat head on a reduced shank,

as plainly. indicated in Fig. 1. rIhis itorm of needle-is capable of being duplicated at any time without difficulty. lOn account of the reduced shank the -frictional adhesion of the material is localized to the fiat head and remains uniform throughoutv the entire operation. It will alsobe noticed that the flathead may be readily brought in contact with the surface of the material B, without requiring any particular skill jon the partofthe operator or incurring danger of introducing an error through faulty adjustnient. The greatest advantage of this procedure however, is due to the fact.v that inasmuch as identical volumes ot' material are displaced in'every determination, the' weight applied forms a true measure of the hardness 'of thematerial. i

For testing very soft substances, the scale L is changed to read to grams instead ot tenths of a kilogram, as shown in Fig.` 1 and described above.

.lt is4 understood that the only particular skill required for successfully using the machine, is .in properly turning the hand wheel forniaintaining a uniform rate of penetration,- but` by causing 'the pointer Pto travel ByA 0.35" lm rdness at TT `F.`

tained.

Having thus described my invention', I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

.1.-A testing machine for testing plastic materials, comprising a nee'dle for penetrating the material to be tested, a screw rod carrying the said needle, a device mounted to turn and engagrringv the said screw rod to .turn thelatter, the said screw rod being mounted to` slide in the direction ot its length, relativ-e to said device, a nut screwing on the said screw rod and mounted to move in the direct-ion of the lengthof the screw rod and a spring pressing the said nut:

Q. A testing machine for testing plastic materials, comprising'a needle for penetratcontrolled device mounted to turn, afscreiv rod carrying the said needle and mountedV to turn with said device and to slide in the direction of its length relative to said'device,

`mounted to move in the direction ot the at one end to a iixed support and connected at its other end with the said nut.

3. A testing machine .for testing plastic materials, comprising a needle for penetrating the 'materia-l, a needle holder engaging the saidneedle, a screw rod coupled to the said needle holder, a hand wheelgmounted to turn and engaging the said screw rod. the said screw-rod being mounted to turn with the said hand wheel and to slide in the-direction of its lengthjrelative ,to said hand wheel, a nut lscrewing on the said screwrod, a'fixedlscale on which indicates;` the said fixed support and connected at'its other end to the said. nut`,"'and Aa Vcounterbalancing devicev :tor the said screw `rod,needle'holder andneedle.-y l 44f.' -A testing machine for testing plastic. materials, comprising a needle for'penetrating the lmaterial` a needle holder engaging the said needle, a screw rod coupled to the said needle holder` a nut screwing on the said screw rod, a iixed scale on which indicates the said nut, a spring connected at one end to a fixed. support and-connected at its other endv 'tol the said nut,wa hand wheel mounted to turn and engaging the said screw rod the said 'screw rod being mounted to wheel, and means for holding the said needle holder against turning. I

.- 5. A testing machineffoi testing plastic materials, comprising a needle for penetrate ing .the material to be tested,a screw rod length ot the screw rod, a scale on which .indicates the sard nut` and a spring connected nut, a spring connected at one end to av desired result is easily and acculately ob` ing the material to be tested` a manually a nut screwing on the said screw rod and,4

turnwith the hand wheel and tolslide in the direction of its length, relative to said hand in unison with'the seconds hand of a watch carrying the said needle, a hand operated` or the seconds beats of a metronome, the' device' mounted to turn, the said screw rod i being mounted to turn with saidz device and to slide in the tive'to said device, a nut screwing on the said screw rod and mounted to move in the direction of the length of the screw rod, a

, spring pressing the said nut, and an indicator vfor indicating themovement of the said needle. n l E 6. 'A testing machine for testing plastic materials, comprising a needle for penetrating the material to be tested, a hand Wheel mounted to turn, a screw rod carrying the said needleand mounted to turn with the saidha-nd Wheel, 'and to slide in the direction of its length relative to said hand Wheel, a nut screwing'on the said screw rod and mounted to niove 1n the direction of the length of the screw rod, 'a spring pressing 8. A testing machine for testingplasticn materials comprising a manually controlled' `screw rod, a penetrating toolv carried bythe screw rod for Vpenetrating the material, a nut .on the said screw rod and mounted to move in the direction of the length of -the. screw rod, means for holding the nut against turning when the screwrod is turned, a spring adapted to exert tension on the nut,

a scaleon which the nut indicates, and an'V indicator driven by the screw rod.

9. A testing machine for -testing plastic materials,.compris1ng` a frame a penetrating` tool for penetrating the material to be test- .ed, a hand Wheel having a hub, a bearing on the-frame of the machine in which the hub direction of its length rela is mounted to turn, a screw rod carrying the said penetrating tool, the upper end of said rod slidably engaging a bore in the hand wheel, the said hand wheel having means for engaging the screw rod to turn the latter, a'nut on the' said screw rod and movable in direction of the length of the screw Y rod, the said nut :being provided on opposite sides with slots, vertical guide-Ways on the frame of the machine and engaged by said slots, a scale carried by one of said guideways on which indicates the said nut. a spring plate for indicating on ,the said scale, the plate being adapted t9 rest on the said nut and having slots engaging the said guideways, the said spring plate being carried upward by. the said nut and having clamping engagement With the said guide- Ways, whereby it remains in the elevated position when the nut descends, and a spring exerting downward .tension on the said nut.

'10'. A testing machine for testing plastic materials, comprising a tool for penetrating the material to` be tested, manually controlled means for moving said tool, a sprung placed under tension 4by Ithe resistance of the' materiaha scale, means for. indicating on said scale the degree of tension imparted to the spring, a dial,.and' a pointer indicating on said dial, the movement of the pointer being controlled from the said manually controlled means. A r V l1. A testing machine for 'testing plastic materials, comprising a tool for penetrating the material to be tested, manually4 controlled means connected Withthe tool :tor

moving the same, a variable pressure device for 'indicating theresistance encountered by the' said tool, and a counterbalancingdevice- -for the said `tool.`

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specitication 1n the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBER'L ABRAHAM.

lVitnesses STANLEY BRAMPTON,

JONATHAN ,B Pannen. 

